O-Ku Sushi (executive chef Mike Chanthavong pictured at a Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen class) will take part in Taste of the Nation. Kristen Wile/UP

Taste of the Nation, a national fundraiser for No Kid Hungry, takes place each March in Charlotte. It’s traditionally been help in Uptown at a high-end, formal venue, bringing in guests to sample dishes from local restaurants. This year, however, the event will look a little different.

The 2019 Taste of the Nation will take place at Brewers at 4001 Yancey, a massive brewery space in lower South End’s Bowers development, on March 13. Brewers at Yancey is home to brands Victory and Southern Tier. The venue shift is a move to rejuvenate the event a bit, making the evening more vibrant and hip.

Also new this year is that restaurants are no longer being asked to pay to take part in the event. As restaurants get more and more requests to provide free food and service at these events, their budgets become stretched thin.

Participating mixologists and chefs come from restaurants including Alley 26, a cocktail bar in Durham, Angeline’s, Dot Dot Dot, upcoming restaurant Bar Marcel, Merchant & Trade, O-Ku Charlotte, The Flipside Restaurant, and Mimosa Grill.

Local beneficiaries this year include the Community Culinary School of Charlotte and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.

We believe in ending hunger, so we’re a media sponsor of this event. Want to join us there? Purchase tickets here and get 10 percent off general admission with the code UP10. —Kristen Wile